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President Donald Trump on September 26 confirmed that he had rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and said Iran could not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, as Tehran continued efforts through Qatar and Pakistan to revive negotiations with the United States.
“They made a proposal, but I rejected it,” Trump told reporters outside the White House.
The U.S. president said Iran wanted to reopen the strait because it was “losing so badly” and claimed American forces had “total control” of the waterway.
The proposal, transmitted through Qatari mediators during the United Nations General Assembly, called for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened in exchange for an end to the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports as part of a broader effort to halt the fighting.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on September 25 that, if the necessary conditions were met, normal maritime traffic could resume within seven days.
The Wall Street Journal had reported, citing American officials, that Trump had privately rejected the proposal and told aides he expected U.S. bombing of Iran to resume after the November midterm elections. The officials said that Trump remained reluctant to restart major combat operations and that his position could change.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that mediation by Qatar and Pakistan was still continuing, while accusing Washington of undermining confidence in negotiations.
“We no longer have faith in Washington after the attacks and sanctions that have followed all negotiations,” Pezeshkian told Al Jazeera on September 26.
The Iranian president confirmed that Qatar and Pakistan were continuing to relay messages between Tehran and Washington.
Pezeshkian said the discussions were based on a memorandum of understanding signed by the U.S. and Iran in June that later collapsed over disagreements involving the strait. He noted the crisis could be resolved through negotiations and regional cooperation rather than force.
Trump reiterated his position on Iran’s nuclear program in a Truth Social post, writing in all capital letters that “IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!!!”
Earlier on September 26, Trump also posted a map on Truth Social labeling the Strait of Hormuz as “Trump Strait.” The post came shortly after the Wall Street Journal report on the rejected Iranian proposal.
Iran’s offer also reportedly included the release of at least $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets, the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil and an end to the U.S. naval blockade.
Tehran has said broader negotiations could address the nuclear issue, but an Iranian official told Reuters that the Islamic Republic would not give up what it considers its rights over uranium enrichment or agree to ship highly enriched uranium out of the country.
The diplomatic effort comes after months of fighting centered partly on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy shipments. Iran’s proposal was previously described by a senior Iranian official as an offer to reopen the waterway within a week if Washington reduced military pressure and lifted the blockade.
The rejection leaves the diplomatic channel open through regional mediators but with no agreement in place, while Washington continues to signal that further military action remains possible. All in all, a return to full-on war seems likely after the midterm elections.
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